Button-setting machine



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet .1.

A. W. HAM. BUTTON SETTING MACHINE No. 569,579. Patented Oct. 13, 1896.

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BUTTON SETTING MACHINE.

Patented Oct. 13, 1896.

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A. W. HAM.

BUTTON SETTING MACHINE.

No. 569,579. Patented Oct. 13, 1896. I

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Medal.)

A. W. HAM

BUTTON SETTING MACHINE.

Patented Oct. 13, 1896.

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A. W. HAM. BUTTON SETTING MAGHINE.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

No. 569,579. Patent-ed 001:. 13, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT V. HAM, OF TROY, NEXV YORK.

BUTTON-SETTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 569,579, dated October 13, 1896.

Application filed June 1, 1894- Serial No. 513,167. (No model.)

T 0 all 1071,0712, it 72m. concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT W. HAM, of the city of Troy, county of Rensselaer, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Button'Setting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements upon,

that class of machineswhich are employed for attaching buttons to shoes by means of metallic fasteners which are threaded into the eyes of the buttons and are passed through the material to which they are to be attached and clenched upon the under side of the latter.

The object of my invention is to dispense with those mediate mechanisms by which, in forms of button-setting machines heretofore known to me, buttons and staples are transferred from a magazine or feed-channel into position for engagement with the clenching mechanism.

By my invention a button-setting machine is constructed wherein the feed mechanism and a carrier-driver are so arranged that the carrier-driver takes from the feed-magazine a staple with an eye-shank button loosely strun g upon its crown,disposes the button and staple in proper position for the clenching operation, and transfers the button and staple to the clenching-jaw, which, by cooperation with the carrierdriver, clenches the staple in the material presented to it and attaches the button thereto. Mechanism to actuate these parts and cause reciprocal movements of the carrier driver relatively to the feed and clenching-jaw is provided, so that a machine constructed according to my invention can be operated speedily and conveniently either by the foot of an operator or by mechanical power.

Accompanying this specification, to form a part of it, there are five plates of drawings containing fourteen figures illustrating my invention, with the same designation of parts by letter reference used in all of them.

Of the illustrations, Figure 1' is a side elevation of my improved button-setting machine with a part of the tubular standard shown as broken out. Fig. 2 is another side elevation of the same machine with the parts shown in larger size than at Fig. 1, with the treadle-rod connection shown as broken otf, Fig. 3

- is a front elevation of the parts shown at Fig.

2, and Fig. 4: is a rear elevation of the parts shown at Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line to cc of Fig. i with the upper jaw of the machine shown as raised. Fig. 6 is another section taken on the line as a." of Fig. a

with the upper jaw shown as down and in engagement with the lower jaw. Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken on the line :0 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 00 9: of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a view of the under side of the outer end of the upper-j aw plate containing a button-holding slot. Fig. 10 is a perspective of the slotted upper-j aw spring-plate. Fig. 11 is a perspective of the button-holding spring of the upper jaw. Fig. 1-2 is a top view of the setting-die sink of the lower jaw. Fig. 13 is a view of one of the button-fasteners, and Fig. 14 a viewof one of the attached fasteners with the material to which it is connected shown in section.

The several parts of the mechanism thus illustrated are designated by letter reference and the function of the parts is described as follows:

The letter 11 designates the head of the machine, arranged upon and secured to the top of the table T.

The letter S designates a slot that is vertically made in the head for the reception of the upper jaw J, as shown at Fig. Al, and within which slot said upper jaw is pivoted at P as shown at Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6.

The letter J 2 designates the lower j aw,which is preferably formed integrally with the head and is extended therefrom frontwardly and laterally, so as to be vertically in line with the upper jaw. The upper part 73.2 of the head is curved upwardly, frontwardly, and then downwardly for the attachment thereto, by means of an offset 0, of the button-chute (3, which latter is connected with the head extension thereat and therefrom extended upwardly and rearwardly on an incline. This chute is shown at Fig. 8 in cross-section and is made with a slot 0 in its under surface, and the fasteners, after being threaded into the button-eyes, are placed fiatwise in the chute with the buttons pendent in the slot from the fasteners and in the position shown at Figs. 5 and 6. 7 v

The button-chute O is preferably made in two parts a and 0, which, when connected, abut against each other at c, with the lower end of the chute part a at g underrunning the flat plate part h of the head and with the chute parts held in position as thus connected by means of grip-fingers f, made to engage with the exterior of the wedge-plate v on the exterior of the head-plate h, as shown at Figs. 3, 4, and 5, and by which the chute parts a and (t are kept in alinement. As thus made, the chute part a can be detached for inserting the fasteners and buttons, and when thus filled is readily connected with the stationary part of the chute. The lower end of the chute part a curves downwardly and inwardly at 'n, as shown at Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6, and so that the lower end of the chute C will engage with the outer end of the upper jaw and the slot on in the latter will be in alinement with the slot 0 of the chute when the upper jaw is raised.

The letter N designates a lifting-spring arranged upon the top of the upper jaw J and this spring is forked or slotted at its outer free end at Z, with its inner end at Z secured to the upper jaw near its pivot at Z The slot in this lifting-spring is vertically in line with the slot made in the upper jaw, and the letter B designates a spring-bar arranged to move in a slideway y made in the upper extension of the head H, and this spring-bar has a spiral spring 7L5 encircling it between the collar 0 and the head-pin 19 so that it is moved in its slidewayy against the force of the spring 71 The function of this spring-bar B is, when the upper jaw J is raised, toengage at its outer end 6 with the lifting-spring and force the latter at its outer end down upon the top of the upper jaw J, so that a button-fastener passing from the lower end of the chute C may enter the slot m in the end of the upper jaw and also the slot in the lifting-spring N, above the latter, and as the jaw J descends and this engagement between the spring-bar B and the lifting-spring N ceases the latter, by its resiliency in rising, engages with the under and opposite sides of the button to hold it and the fastener firmly within the slot of the upper jaw and draw it back on the inclined under faces of said slot to the rear wider end of the latter and in a position for setting.

The letter A designates a leaf-spring, that is attached at one of its ends at b to the upper end of the curved head part on the under side of the latter below the button-chute O, with the free lower end a of said spring A in a position to engage with and bear upon the top of the lowest button in the chute O and that one in the latter which is next back of the one which has descended into the slot M of the upper jaw, while the latter is being operated to descend, and with said spring A actuated to be moved away from its engagement with the lowermost button in the chute 0 when the upper jaw J rises by the contact said spring makes with the beveled shoulder 2', produced on the upper surface of the upper jaw J, so that another button may descend into the slot in the upper jaw to be acted upon by the lifting-spring as before.

The die W, arranged on and secured to the upper face of the lower jaw, is produced by two semicone-form concavities 10 that approach each other on an angle from their least to their greatest depth at 10 they being arranged upon each side of a septum in, that makes an acute angle upon its upper face, and the function of these concavites as thus arranged is to direct the prongs of the fasteners f to two clenching centers, so that if the prongs incline from a true perpendicular they will by the concave sides and descent of the .sinks be guided to a point where they will be uniformly turned up toward each other and clenched.

The letter T designates a foot-treadle, that at its rear end is pivoted to a bracket B connected with the feet F of the tubular standard S and the letter R a treadle-rod arranged within said tubular standard. The letter S designates a spiral spring encircling said treadle-rod, one end of which is hooked onto said standard and the other end onto said rod, so that as said treadle is forced down the treadle-rod R is caused, to descend against the recoil force of said spring S.

The letter L designates a pivoted lever, the I inner end of which is pivoted to the upper end of the rod R and the outer end of which is pivoted to the lower end of the-rod R the upper end of which latter is pivoted to the rearward handle-extension endH of the upper jaw, so that as said treadle T is forced down the upper jaw J is forced down on its pivoted connection within the slot S to em gage with the lower jaw, as shown at Fig. 6.

The leaf-spring A is made with an ofiset 1', arranged upon one of the sides, so as to be beneath the slot in the button-chute O, which offset r, as thus placed, engages with the lowermost button 17 in the chute when the end a of said spring is not in engagement with the shoulder p of the head, as before described.

The slot m of the upper jaw has downwardly and outwardly beveled sides 031 which are extended rearwardly to approach each other at K, and then to widen out again on an angle at 70 to the square end H, where a small notch 70 is made for the button-eye, as shown at Fig. 9, the function of the beveled sides being to produce a bearing-place for the fastener-shoulders as the button is pulled upon by the lifting-spring, and the inner angle k is to square the staple into alineinent with the sinks.

The operation of the mechanism thus described and illustrated is as follows: Buttons with fasteners threaded into the eyes thereof having been supplied to the chute O, as acted upon by gravity slide down, with their fasteners lying fiatwise in said chute, until they reach the lower end of the latter, where the outer face of the chute is cut away at m, as shown at Fig. 5, when the fasteners f fall down, pendent from the button-eyes, while the lowermost button slides into the slot in the upper jaw J, the lifting-spring being pressed down by the end of the bar B, so that the button also enters the slot of the liftingspring above the slot on the upper jaw, the button being thus in a position for setting. As the treadle is operated to cause the upper jaw to descend, this releases the bar B from its contact with the lifting-spring N, causing the latter to pull upwardly on the button, so that the latter is firmly held within the slot of the upper jaw by the fastener, placed crosswise to and bearing on its shoulder against the opposite under sides of the slot in the upper jaw, while the spring A, being released from its engagement with the shoulder 1), presses down upon the lowermost button to hold it in the lower end of the chute until the jaw rises to position again to receive another button as before, while the button held by the upper jaw, as carried down by the latter, is forced through the material to which. it is to be attached as the latter is placed over the die on the lower jaw, while the prongs of the fastener as they descend into the sinks of the die, before being turned up and clenched, are straightened vertically by the lateral and longitudinal concavity of the sinks and their relative position to each other.

Thus constructed and arranged a very simple and efficient button-setting machine is produced that has but few working parts and which can be made at much less cost than the older and more complicated machines.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is-

1. In a button-setting machine, the combination of the following instrumentalities,viz: an anvil; a feed mechanism, to feed staples having buttons strung loosely upon them, including a raceway having a passage-way to receive the staple, and a slot to receive that portion of the button-eye, or shank, between the head of the button and the crown of the staple, to guide and deliver said staple and button to a carrier-driver; a carrier-driver, to receive and hold said staple and button, provided with a slot to accommodate the eye of the button and shoulders to bear upon the crown of the staple, in open communication with the feed mechanism to which slot and shoulders the staple and button are delivered by the feed and from which they must be retracted to be removed from said carrierdriver; and actuating devices for changing the relative positions of said anvil, feed and carrier-driver, whereby the legs of the staple are clenched, substantially as described.

2. In a button-setting machine, a pivotal carrier-driver having a claw in its outer end, the carrier-driverbeing connected with the reciprocable actuating mechanism to be swung or between and cooperate successively with the feed and the anvil, a spring clamping-jaw on the carrier-driver, and normally in unset condition thereon, and a stop in the path of the spring, for setting it in the approach of the carrierlriver, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a button-setting machine, the combination with a stationary jaw provided with clenching-sinks in the upper face, of an upper jaw provided with a button-receiving slot and button-lifting spring, said upper jaw being pivoted to the lower jaw; and a buttonchute constructed and arranged to deliver a button having a fastener threaded into the eye thereof into the said slotted jaw and button-lifting spring at each reciprocation of the latter, substantially in the manner as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a button-setting machine the combination with a stationary head made with alaterally-extended jaw part, a vertical slot and provided with a setting-die in its upper face, substantially as described, of an upper jaw pivoted to the jaw part of the head, and arranged to move in the vertical slot in the latter; said upper jaw being constructed to be reciprocated upon its pivot to engage with the die in the jaw part of the head, and made with a button-receiving slot in its jaw end; a button-lifting spring provided with a slot in its free end and at its outer end attached to said upper jaw so as to be above the latter and to have its button-receiving slot in vertical alinement with the slot in the upper jaw; and a stationary button-chute made with a slot in its under face and adapted to connect with the slot in said upper jaw and the slot in said button-lifting spring at each reciprocation of said upper jaw and deliver to said jaw and spring the lowermost staple with its button substantially in the manner as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination with the head 11, made with the upward extension 71 spring-bar B, andspring A, and jaw part J said head being attached to the table T; of the upper jaw J, pivoted to the jaw part of said head, said upper jaw having the slot an, the slotted lifting-spring N, and the button-chute C made with the slot to be attached to the upward extension of said head and made to connect with the slot in said upper jaw and lifting-spring when said jaw is raised; and the upright rod R connected to the handle end H of said upper-j aw part, constructed and arranged to be operated, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. The combination with the upper jaw J of the b utton-holding slot m,havin g downwardly and outwardly tapering sides that approach each other and then widen out to produce the angle 70, and having the square end 10 made with the notch of the lifting-spring N,made with the slot Z, in its free end and at its lower IIO end attached to the upper jaw, substantially in the manner as and for the purposes set forth.

'7. In a button-setting machine, a carrierdriver connected with the reciprocable actuating mechanism to be swung between and cooperate successively with the feed and the anvil, a spring clamping-jaw on the carrierdriver, and norm allyin unset condition thereon, a button-and-staple let-off for the feed normally in set condition to restrain the buttons and staples, as specified, a stop in the path of the spring for setting it in the approach of the carrier-driver and a projection moving 'in harmony with the carrier-driver to unset the let-off and permit the escape of a button with its fastener, substantially as described.

8. In a button-setting machine, the combination of the following instrumentalities, viz: an anvil; a feed mechanism including a raceway having a passage-way for the staple and a slot to receive that portion of the buttoneye between the head of the button and the crown of the staple, to guide and deliver the staple with the button strung on its crown to a carrier-driver; a carrier-driver having a slot to accommodate the eye of the button and shoulders to bear upon the crown of the staple, in open communication with the raceway; a staple and button holder for said carrierdriver; a stop therefor; and actuating devices for changing the relative positions of said anvil, feed and carrier-driver, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

, ALBERT \V. HAM. lVitnesses:

F. E. I-IoWE, ARTHUR M. WIGHT. 

